Browning and Fornaroli to drive Williams and McLaren in Mexico City practice

Two more Friday-morning seats

Williams and McLaren have each lined up a young driver for first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and both have a second outing booked for Brazil the week after. According to RacingNews365, Williams protégé Luke Browning will take Alex Albon's car in Mexico, while reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will drive for McLaren in place of Lando Norris. Motorsport Week and Autohebdo report the same pairings for Mexico and Brazil.

Browning's extra session

Motorsport Week says Browning has had two earlier outings in the FW48 this season, and that Mexico and Brazil complete Williams' allocation of four rookie sessions. RacingNews365 adds that a Barcelona attempt was lost to a car problem. Browning said he was grateful to be trusted with all four of the team's rookie sessions, calling it a chance to get more laps in the car.

In Brazil it is Carlos Sainz who steps aside, according to RacingNews365 and Motorsport Week. It would be Albon's third such absence of the year, following two in Italy.

Fornaroli completes McLaren's quota

For Fornaroli, Mexico and Brazil follow earlier Friday outings in Barcelona and Hungary and help satisfy McLaren's rookie requirement, RacingNews365 and Autohebdo report. Fornaroli, whom McLaren recently confirmed for its Hypercar programme next season, called both circuits new to him and pointed to the altitude and low grip in Mexico City. His stated aim is to help the team set up Norris's and Oscar Piastri's cars and collect data.

What the numbers say

The swaps affect drivers who are, at this stage, outside the title fight. After 18 rounds Norris has 188 points and sits fifth in the standings, Piastri has 128 in seventh. At Williams, Sainz has 7 points and Albon 5, from the same 18 rounds.

Every team has to give a rookie two first-practice sessions across the season, which is why the Friday-morning line-up in the coming weeks looks different from usual. Mercedes, for example, has already announced that Frederik Vesti will replace George Russell in Mexico. The Mexico City Grand Prix is scheduled for 1 November, with Brazil on 8 November.